PLANET Barcode generator
Generate easy & customizable PLANET Barcodes in seconds.
Make sure to test out your configured barcode before using it in production.
Free PLANET Barcode Generator – Create Barcodes Online
Generate USPS PLANET postal tracking barcodes in seconds with TryQRCode.
Create a free PLANET barcode for mail tracking and return-mail identification. Customize the colors, width, and height, preview it live, and download it as PNG, SVG, JPG, or WEBP for postal labels, tracking documents, and educational use. No login or technical skills required.
Generate PLANET BarcodeWhat is a PLANET Barcode?
PLANET (Postal ALPHA Numeric Encoding Technique) is a linear barcode symbology formerly used by the United States Postal Service for mail tracking. It encodes 12 digits using tall and short bars in the same pattern as POSTNET but with inverted meanings: a tall bar represents 0 and a short bar represents 1. PLANET was applied to return-mail and courtesy-reply envelopes for tracking purposes before being discontinued in favor of the Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB).
In short: PLANET is the inverted twin of POSTNET, encoding 12-digit tracking codes as tall/short bars for USPS return-mail tracking until it was retired alongside POSTNET.
PLANET Quick Facts
| Encodes | 12-digit numeric tracking codes (USPS return mail) |
|---|---|
| Length | 12 digits (60 bars total, plus framing bar) |
| Symbology | 5 bars per digit (2 tall + 3 short, inverted from POSTNET) |
| Check digit | Modulo-10 check digit embedded in the barcode |
| Encoding standard | USPS PLANET specification (DMM 602) |
| Typical use | Return-mail tracking, courtesy-reply mail tracking, postal confirmation |
How to Create Your PLANET Barcode
Follow these four steps to generate a PLANET barcode in under a minute.
1
Enter Your Data
Type or paste your 12-digit PLANET tracking code.
2
Customize the Look
Adjust foreground and background colors, width scale, height, and toggle the human-readable text.
3
Generate & Preview
Your barcode renders instantly with a live preview so you can verify it before download.
4
Download & Print
Export as PNG, SVG, JPG, or WEBP and use it on labels, tracking sheets, and documents.
No registration required. Your barcode is generated in seconds and ready for print or digital use.
Benefits of PLANET Barcodes
Why teams and businesses choose PLANET barcodes for dependable, scannable identification.
Mail Tracking
Designed specifically for USPS return-mail and courtesy-reply tracking services.
POSTNET Complement
Uses the same bar-height encoding as POSTNET but inverted, making it easy to pair.
Check Digit Protection
Includes a modulo-10 check digit to ensure scanned data integrity.
Return Mail Friendly
Applied to self-addressed and courtesy-reply envelopes for automated confirmations.
Historical Significance
Played a key role in USPS mail tracking before the Intelligent Mail Barcode era.
Educational Use
Still studied as a classic example of height-modulated postal barcode symbology.
Common Use Cases for PLANET
See how PLANET barcodes are used across retail, logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Return Mail Tracking
Tracking confirmation for business reply and courtesy-reply mail pieces.
Delivery Confirmation
Proof-of-mailing and delivery status for postal return envelopes.
Bulk Mail Services
Used by organizations that need confirmation of return responses from recipients.
Postal Training
Taught in postal operations courses alongside POSTNET and IMB symbologies.
Legacy Mail Archives
Still visible on older courtesy-reply envelopes and archived postal documents.
Legacy Postal Systems
Referenced by legacy USPS tracking software that predates the IMB transition.
PLANET Barcode – Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about how PLANET works and where it was used.
No. The USPS discontinued PLANET along with POSTNET in January 2013, replacing both with the Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB).
PLANET uses the same 5-bar-per-digit encoding as POSTNET but inverts the tall/short meanings. POSTNET encodes addressing data while PLANET encodes tracking data.
PLANET encodes exactly 12 numeric digits, which are used as USPS tracking codes for return and courtesy-reply mail.
Yes. PLANET includes a modulo-10 check digit that scanners use to verify the integrity of the scanned data.
The Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB) replaced PLANET and POSTNET, combining routing and tracking in a single 65-bar four-state symbol.
Yes, because they use the same tall/short bar encoding, but the inverted pattern means a PLANET barcode reads differently than a POSTNET barcode for the same digit.
Create Your Free PLANET Barcode Now
Generate a scannable PLANET barcode in seconds—download it in any format for educational, archival, or reference purposes.
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